REDLANDS, CALIF. – Hangar 24 Craft Brewery, one of the top 100 craft brewers in the country, has become the first Southern California craft brewery to both can and bottle beer with the release of 12-ounce cans of Helles Lager and Orange Wheat. Hangar 24’s new line of 12-ounce cans are currently available in its tasting room and will distribute to on and off-premise locations in California starting on Dec. 17. The craft brewer is also completing its latest facility expansion to increase production and renovate its tasting room, among other enhancements.

“Aluminum cans will never replace our bottles, but we wanted to give our fans a new way to enjoy Hangar 24,” said Hangar 24 Owner and Master Brewer Ben Cook. “Our new line of aluminum cans gives everyone the option to enjoy Hangar 24 in places where glass is not ideal.”

Along with the portability and durability that aluminum cans provide aluminum is also environmentally friendly and protects the beer from light and oxygen, both of which can alter a beer’s flavor.

In addition to adding aluminum cans to its lineup, Hangar 24 is simultaneously completing the latest expansion to its brewing facility in Redlands, CA. This expansion increases the annual brewing capacity to 35,000 barrels enabling the California craft brewery to keep up with the strong demand.

“The additional improvements that we made at the brewery will allow us to increase our production to meet the higher demand for years to come and to offer all of our fans an improved tasting room experience,” said Cook.

Hangar 24’s expanded brewing facility includes three new fermenting tanks, as well as a truck loading dock, space for a new bottling line to be installed next summer, a lab for testing new recipes and renovated office space. Hangar 24 will also move the current cold box to the new space to accommodate the 500 sq. ft. tasting room expansion and remodel, which will create more room for beer sampling and growler fills.

Hangar 24 is available throughout Southern California and its famed Central Coast. For a full list of on- and off-premise locations carrying Hangar 24 craft beer, please visit Hangar 24 Brewery

About Hangar 24

Hangar 24 Craft Brewery began with a true passion for good beer, the absolute love of flying and the pure enjoyment of being around great friends. Owner and master Brewer Ben Cook and his buddies used to meet at Hangar 24 after an afternoon of flying to trade stories, talk aviation, play music and share a few cold ones that Ben just finished brewing at home. These days, the location where these fine beers are brewed has changed, but the quality time spent enjoying a delicious, handcrafted beer and conversation is the same as ever. Hangar 24 Craft Brewery employs more than 50 team members and its distribution is now spanned throughout Southern California with its addition of another company, Hangar 24 Craft Distribution. Its annual capacity now stands at approximately 35,000 and its Brewery and Distribution Center together employ nearly 100 people.